I am a native of Alexander City. I am a fourth generation educator in this system. My great, great grandfather, William Jessie Darnell was summoned from Symrna, Georgia to be the principal of the "Colored", all black high school, Laurel High School. This school now houses the third and fourth grades students and is named Stephens Elementary.
Georgia Aquarium
My grandfather, son of Jessie, Rev. William Thomas Darnell and his wife, Grace Ellis Darnell taught at the high school. My grandfather taught History to 9-12 graders. My grandmother taught first grade for 35 years plus. Sometimes, she would have as many as 90 first graders in one class. She also taught Art in the afternoon to students in the upper grades. When my mother was born to this union, Gwendolyn Darnell Coley, she also became a first grade teacher and married a Mathematician and Musician, my father, George Frank Coley, Sr. My parents both taught in the Alexander City school system. At one time, my mother, father and grandmother taught in the Alexander City school system at the same time. My mother and father are both retired but still serving the community as tutors, teachers and volunteering in any capacity they are able to lend a hand. My grandmother is enjoying her blessing of longevity listening to religious television, judges and game shows each day. My grandmother, Grace Darnell, mother, Gwendolyn Coley and I, Undrea Coley have all taught at Jim Pearson.
Sweetest Grandmother in the World!
Sweetest Mom in the World!
My mother and father loved and raised four children, me the oldest, the computer lab instructor at Jim Pearson Elementary in the Alexander City School system. My other siblings are not recognized as teachers; however, they do teach in their respective fields. Kimberly the second child is a Doctor of Pharmacy, an entrepreneur and a prescription auditor for an insurance company. Darnell is an attorney for the Alabama State Department of Education as well as a pianist for her church. George is an industrial engineer for the former Russell Corporation now Lee Apparel. I have two beautiful nephews, Jon Thomas (son of Darnell) who is in First Grade and George Alexander, Alex (son of George) who is 2 years old and he has a sybling, Madison Grace who is 5 months. She happens to favor her sweetest Aunt. They are the light of our family.
My mother and father loved and raised four children, me the oldest, the computer lab instructor at Jim Pearson Elementary in the Alexander City School system. My other siblings are not recognized as teachers; however, they do teach in their respective fields. Kimberly the second child is a Doctor of Pharmacy, an entrepreneur and a prescription auditor for an insurance company. Darnell is an attorney for the Alabama State Department of Education as well as a pianist for her church. George is an industrial engineer for the former Russell Corporation now Lee Apparel. I have two beautiful nephews, Jon Thomas (son of Darnell) who is in First Grade and George Alexander, Alex (son of George) who is 2 years old and he has a sybling, Madison Grace who is 5 months. She happens to favor her sweetest Aunt. They are the light of our family.